Window construction



Oct. 19, 1965 J. BYRKA WINDOW CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed Dec.31, 1965 7 5 4 V W 5 y HV/ M v 1 UM l m 1 1 2- \VI INVENTOR.

BYRKA JOHN ATTORNEYS Oct. 19, 1965 J. BYRKA WINDOW CONSTRUCTION FiledDec. 31, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VENTOR.

JOHN BYRKA SQWM) Gain?) BY QM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,212,140WINDOW CONSTRUCTION John llyrka, Pontiac, Mich, assignor to WhizzerIndustries llnc., Pontiac, Mich. Filed Dec. 31, 1963, Ser. No. 334,861 1Claim. (Cl. 20-53) This invention relates to a window construction andmore particularly to a window in which the glassed panels are normallyfixed or non-movably positioned.

Large, fixed position windows are commonly used in commercial and houseconstruction along with conventional openable windows. The glazed unitsof the fixed windows can be cleaned only from the outside of thebuilding and thus, considerable expense and labor is required foroutside cleaning purposes.

Hence, it is an object of this invention to provide a windowconstruction of the fixed glazed type, that is, normally not openable,but which window may be opened and pivoted inwardly of the building forcleaning the outer surfaces of glass from inside the building.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a fixed-removablewindow construction wherein the parts are normally tightly sealedtogether, but may be easily released and pivoted inwardly and whereinsimple extrusions may be used for the various frame and sealing parts.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent upon reading of the following description, of which theattached drawings form a part.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional, elevational view of the window constructionwith the glazed unit in its normal closed position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the glazed unit pivotedinwardly for cleaning purposes.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, plan view, taken in thedirection of arrows 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, perspective, exploded view of the partsincluded in the sill and lower frame member.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, exploded, perspective view of the lockingmechanism and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the locking cam, per se.

The window construction herein is adapted for mounting within aconventional window opening 10 in a wall, shown schematically. Thewindow includes a fixed frame 11 secured to the building within thewindow opening 10 and formed of a header 12, jambs 13 and a sill 14, alljoined together at their adjacent ends in any conventional manner, toform a rigid outer frame.

The jambs and header are provided with integral flanges 15 and 16respectively, which extend inwardly of the window opening and secured tothe inner (relative to the building) surfaces of these flanges areresilient, continuous strips 17.

The sill 14 (see FIG. 4) is provided with an upwardly opening roundbottomed, groove 18 adjacent the inner face of the window unit, thegroove being formed of a pair of upwardly extending flanges, namely, ashort inner flange 19 and a higher outer flange 20. The sill uppersurface 21 slopes downwardly and outwardly of the building and is formedwith a shoulder 22.

Fitted within the fixed frame 11 is a framed, glazed panel 24 having anupper frame member 25, side frame member 26 and a lower frame member 27upon which is formed an inner depending flange 28 terminating in alower, rounded bead 29 which is widened in the inner direction and whichfits into and conforms to the rounded bottom of groove 18 of the sill.The lower frame member also has an outer depending flange 30 whichterminates in a downwardly opening groove 31 within which a paddingstrip 32 is secured. The padding strip has an upper portion whichcorresponds in shape to the groove 31 and is frict'ionally held withinthe groove, and a lower, hollow padding portion which rests upon thesloping surface 21 and presses against the shoulder 22 of the sill 14.The padding strip is formed of a resilient rubberlike material, such asa resilient vinyl plastic, extruded into the shape shown.

The frame members each have flanges 35 which are co-planar and extendinward of the window opening and against these flanges is located theglass glazing unit 36 which as illustrated, may be in the form of a pairof glass panes secured together, with an air space between them. Theglazing unit, is held in place by means of a continuous glazing strip=37 having an integral leg 38 fitted into a glazing strip channel 39for-med in each of the frame members. The glazing strip is provided witha groove 41 which receives a padding strip 40, preferably identical tothe previously described padding strip 32. The glass unit is thusclamped between the padding strip 40 and resilient stripping 42 securedto the flanges 35.

When the window is in its normal, closed, position (see FIG. 1), theweight of the glazing unit is concentrated near the outer face of theframe and primarily rests upon the outer flange 30 to thus compress andtightly seal the padding strip 32 against the sill.

Locking means are provided to lock the frame panel within the fixedouter frame (see -FIGS. 3, 5 and 6). Thus, the side members of the framepanel are formed in a channel shape formed of an outer Wall 45 and aninner wall 46 with a cross-wall 47. An extruded block 48 having screwholes 49 is screwed to the cross wall 47 by self-tapping screws 50. Theblock is provided with a journal opening 51. A cam 52 is arranged alongside of the block. The cam is formed as a one-piece stamping having acam plate portion 53 and an integral axle portion 54, which fits intothe journal opening 5 1 in the block. In addition, a wrench opening 55is formed in the cam plate portion and is aligned with a drilled opening56 is the wall 46 to receive a conventional wrench for turning the cam.The cam, when turned to its locking position, is received within achannel 57 formed in the fixed frame j ambs.

Operation In operation, the fixed frame 11 is permanently secured withinthe window opening 10 and the frame panel is secured in its closedposition (see FIG. 1) by the earns 52. When it is desired to open thewindow for cleaning purposes, the earns 52 are rotated by wrenchesextended through the openings 56 in the side members and the frame panelis pulled inwardly, pivoting about its lower bead 29 which rotates uponthe curved bottom surface of the sill channel 18. Preferably, a limitingchain 60 is secured at one end to the frame panel and at its other endto the outer frame to limit the inward movement of the glaze panel tothe position shown in FIG. 2. At this point, a window cleaner, insidethe building, can reach around the window and clean the outside surfaceof the glass. Alternatively, the entire fnamed inner panel can be liftedout and removed, although because of its usual large size and weight,this normally would be done only for repair purposes.

After the window is cleaned, it is tilted back into its closed position,pivoting about the bead again and the weight of the glass thrustsdownwardly upon the padding strip 32 to seal the padding s t-rip. At thesame time, the window is pushed outwardly to tightly compress thesealing strips 17 against the flanges 35 of the jambs and header and atthis point the cams are rotated into locked position. The resilientbiasing action of the strips 17 tends to push the fnamed panel inwardlyto both tightly seal against the framed panel and also press andfrictionally locks the side or inner face of the cam portion 53 againstthe adjacent portions of the jamb channels 57. This provides a tight,rattle-free connection.

This invention may be further developed within the scope of thefollowing claims. Accordingly, it is desired that the foregoingdescription be read as being merely illustrative of an operativeembodiment of this invention and not in a strictly limited sense.

I now claim:

In a window consruction having an inner and an outer face, comprising afixed frame having a horizontal outwardly and downwardly inclinedstepped sill whose lower step is outside the higher step;

and an inwardly swingable framed panel fitted within the fixed frame andhaving a lower horizontal frame member rested upon the sill;

an upwardly opening horizontally extending groove formed in the sill atthe inner face of the window by; a pair of closely spaced upwardlyextending parallel flanges;

an inner integral flange depending from the lower frame member near saidinner face of the window and terminating in a lower rounded edge fittedwithin said groove and rested upon said groove bottom; an outer integralflange depending from said lower frame member near said outer face ofthe window;

and a resilient sealing strip secured to and extending the length ofsaid outer flange for resting upon the outer step of said sill andagainst the vertical surface between the steps;

said framed pane-l being swung inwardly upon its lower rounded edge foraccess to its outer surface;

a glazing panel in the fname of the framed panel arranged directly aboveth sealing strip; with the parts being so arranged that the center ofgravity of the framed panel is nearer its outer face for supporting thebulk of the panel weight upon said padding strip;

said sealing strip being in the form of a resiliently compressiblehollow sealing strip which compresses under the weight of the framedpanel for sealing to the outer step of the sill and the vertical surfacebetween the steps.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,925,817 9/33Plym l89-69 2,845,665 8/58 Place 20-53 FOREIGN PATENTS 925,929 3/55Germany.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner.

